Sustainable packaging alternatives made of cardboard and paper are rapidly gaining in importance, and not just within the German trade. Peter Schiffmann - a long-time machine supplier to the O&G industry and owner of the A&P Service company - has been offering a sustainable banding solution for three years, having identified a great demand all over the industry. He serves customers in the nearby fruit growing area Altes Land as well as in neighbouring countries such as Luxembourg.
For this purpose, the modern technology of the banding machines from ATS-Tanner Banding AG has been combined with the cardboard wing trays from A+P Service, which hold the apples securely and firmly together, the company claims. The combined packaging solution with the sustainable trays and banderoles is used throughout Germany not only for top fruit, but also for a variety of other fresh products such as kiwi, asparagus, bananas and courgettes.
Banded apples in wing shells and banded fruit & vegetables without carriers.
The advantages of the banding system are numerous: among them are the much desired sustainability, the simple operation, high operational safety, low maintenance costs with a high number of pieces as well as a great performance. "This efficiency is particularly evident in the fully automatic system, which has a capacity of up to 40 cycles per minute, depending on the product and product feed", Schiffmann explains.
Semi- and fully automatic machine
However, the process is not only suitable for large packers, but also for smaller companies, which are usually more likely to be served by a semi-automatic banding line. Meanwhile the number of suppliers has increased massively, Schiffmann observes. "However, we have modified the existing system. As soon as the punnet arrives at the banding machine, the data is printed directly on the band by thermal transfer printer. It is then placed around the filled wing shell and closed via ultrasonic cold welding. This means that no adhesives or labels are being used."
This packaging solution has already become well-established in the organic sector.
Inexhaustible potential
Schiffmann still sees further potential for the use of alternative packaging in the fruit industry. "In the organic sector, the solution has already established itself, but in the conventional sector it is now also rapidly gaining in importance. Firstly, because the banderole is fixed around the fruit, regardless of the size of the packaging and without the fruit being able to be removed from the package afterwards. Secondly, the solution at the POS offers the advantage that the fruit is visible to the end consumer. This means the potential is inexhaustible!"
Visit the company at Fruit Logistica at the Sorma Group stand: Hall 9 / D13
For more information:
A+P Service
Peter Schiffmann e. K.
Ostfeld 20
D - 21635 Jork
Zentrale. +49 (0)4162 – 25 439 – 00
Fax +49 (0)4162 - 25 439 - 52
Email: info@ap-service.de
Homepage: www.ap-service.de